Lost motion torque transmitting means



Dec. 25, 1951 E. N. JACOBI 2,580,026

' LOS'T MOTION TORQUE TRANSMITTING MEANS Filed Aug. 25, 1948 A 2 SHEET SSHEET 1 Dec. 25, 1951 E. N. JACOB! 2,530,026

LOST MOTION TORQUE TRANSMITTING MEANS Filed Aug. 25. 1948 2 SPEETS-SHEET 2 33mm Edward M Jasmin m fgg e 8 Patented Dec. 25, V 1951 PATENT OFFICE I AOST MOTION TORQUE TRANSMITTING MEANS Edward N. Jacobi, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Briggs & Z Stratton Corporation, Milwaukee,

Wis., a corporation of Delaware I Application August 25, 1948, Serial No. 46,091

7 Claims.

Thislinvention relates to lost motion torque transmitting means, and refers more particularly to improvements in drive connections for cylinder locks of the type commonly used on automobile doors. 7

It is customary to mount a cylinder type lock in an automobile door with the front of the rotatable lock cylinder exposed at the outer wall of the door for key actuation, while a cam on the inner end of the, cylinder provides a driver adapted to translate cylinder rotation into motion of a member connected with the door latch mechanism whereby operativeness of the latch is controlled.

Since it is necessary to provide for removal of the key from the door look when the lock cylinder is in both its locked and unlocked positions, the driver or cam is seldom fixed to the cylinder, and preferably has a lost motion cone nection thereto.

Because the inner end of the lock cylinder is relatively small, an exceedingly .difiicult problem is presented in the provision of a lost motion connection between it and the cam or driver, for the inner end of the cylinder must be capable of withstanding the relatively large torsional forces imposed upon it, especially when the latch mechanism becomes sticky. Heretofore, screws, erosspins and similar securement devices have been used to connect the driver with the lock cylinder, but these connecting means have not been entirely satisfactory becau e of the relatively complicated" assembly steps which they involve and because they are not always capable of withstanding the stresses imposed upon them in consequence to a sticky latch mechanism. Riveting is also impractical for the purpose because the die cast metal of the lock cylinder has a tendency to crumble under the blows thereon, and the thin sections about the tumbler slots in the cylinder are easily deformed by the riveting operation.

riveting and without otherwise substantially iInpairing the strength of the cylinder.

2 Still anotherobject of this invention resides in the provision of a securement device of the character described which may be manufactured and assembled at unusually low cost and without 5 complicated machines or equipment.

With the above and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds,' this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be madeas come within the scope of the claims.

5 The accompanying drawings illustrate several complete examples of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the best modes so far devised'for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a lock and latch mechanism mounted in an automobile door and embodying the lost motion connection of this invention;

' Figure 2 is a'rear elevational View of the lock shown in Figure 1; v

Figure 3- is a group perspective view of the component parts of the lost motion connection between the cam or driver and the lock cylinder;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view through the lock showing the cooperating stops on the cylinder and case for limiting rotation of the cylinder;

Figures 5 to '7, inclusive, are sectional views taken along the line A-A in Figure 1 and showing one embodiment of the lost motion connection of this invention and three different relationships between the lock cylinder and the cam or driver; I

Figures 8 to 10, inclusive, are views similar to Figures 5 to 7 but showing a modified embodi- 4O ment of this invention; and

Figures 11 to 13, inclusive, are views similar to Figures 5 to 7 but showing still another embodiment of this invention.

, Referring now to the accom anying drawings,

in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 designatesgenerally a; cylinder lock of the side bar cylinder type, mounted in the outer wall 6 of an automobile door with its front end projecting outside the door to be accessible to a key 1. Within the lock case 8 is a rotatable cylinder 9 having a substantially cylindrical rearward exten ion 9' which projects behind the rear of the lock case.

A door latch mechanism I0 is also mounted on the door between the walls thereof, opposite the lock, and is actuated by a handle (not shown) For the purpose of locking the door closed, the latch mechanism is provided with a latch disabling device which is actuated by means of an appropriate lever arrangement, in this case a pivotally mounted latch lever I. It will be understood that this'lever is adapted-to be swung between defined limits, in one of which the door is locked and in the other of which it is unlocked.

The lock cylinder or actuator is coupled to the latch arm H by means ofa substantially'U- shaped cam or driver I2 rotatably mounted on the rearward extension 9' of the cylinder. For this purpose, the central or hubxportion [3 of the driver has a hole M of a diameter to slidably fit over the extension 9', and arms l5 and IS extending rearwardly from eachside of/the central portion of the driver are respectively adapted to engage opposite side edges of the latch lever H, the upper marginal edgeportion l5 and {5' ofeach arm beinginclindoutwardlv with re pect to the rest of-the arm to provide a bearing surface alongwhich "the res ective arms engagethe latch le er. The arms I5 and I6 are spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the latch ;lever to-providea degree of lost motion between the driver and the latch lever.

The driver is retained ;in 'place on .the lock cylinder by "having its apertured .central portion confined between the rear of the lock case 3 and a novel spring'clin secured-in. slots in the driver. The spring clip, which also serves to transmit motlon'fromthe cylinder to.:the dri er, hasa fork-like configuration, and is a unit rv stamping formed from fiatspring metal. The fork-like clip comprises a base portion 29 having three substantially parallel tines'2l, 22 and 23 extending upwardly therefrom. The outer tines or legs 2| and 23 embrace the extension 9 of the cylinder and have their inner edge portions received in slots l8'which' open to diametrically opposite sides of the extension 9'. The inner edges of the legs 2 and2'3 also'have shallow notch-like cutouts 24 which define hooks 2.5. at the extremities of the'outer'tines, and these hook over the cylindrical side of the extension, adjacent to the slots l8, to preclude transverse .displacement of the clip from the driver. The slots l8, of course, preclude axial motion of the clip along the extension 9'.

The center tine22 of'the fork-likeclip engages in a cross slot"|9, parallel to the slots I8, and which opens to the rear of the driver. The center tine is slightly shorter than the outer tines, and it is bent fiatwise slightly forwardly at its lower end, as at 26, out of the planebf theilemainder of the clip, to react against "the bottom IQ of the cross slot l9 and thus bias ,the'outer tines 2| and 23 into secureengagement with the sides of their respective slots in amanner'to prevent rattling of the clip. The outer end of the center tine, however, is angled-rearwardly, :as at 2?, to facilitate attachment 01 the'clip to' the extension 9' of the cylinder, the center tine "being thereby cammed rearwardly as the clip is-pushed upward into place on'the cylinder'to'become drivingly connected thereto.

It will also be noted that the width of the center tine diminishes slightly toward its 'free extremity to facilitate its entry into the slot |'9, but its width at the periphery of the cylinder-is equal to the width of the slot so that the center tine is placed in shear at this point when transmitting torque from thepylinder toitherdriyer 2. It will also be apparent that the hooks 25 at the free ends of the outer legs also cooperate With the lock cylinder or actuator in a manner to enable both the slotted extension 9' and the clip to Withstand large torsion stresses, and that the center tine 22.substant ially bridges theslot IS in the extension to'reinforce' :the same.

In addition to securing'the driver in place on the lock cylinder extension, the clip also serves to transmit motion from the actuator or cylinder to'the "driven, in1a manner providing for additional lost motion in the cylinder to latch coupling. To this.end, p.ortions of the clip are adapted for transient engagement with the inner sides of thedriver arms.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures5 to""'7,ithe free ends of the outer legs 2| and 23 of the clip are adapted to separately engage the inner surfaces of the arms l5 and I6, respectively, of the driver, as at 28. In the embodiment' shown'inFigures 8 *to"10,'*the lower body "portion 20 "of *theclip-is "provided with shoulders 28"0f substantial width, 'forengagement with the lower-edge of each of the actuator arms.

Figures "1:1 to13 show another modification of the clip, adapted to provide less lost motion (i. e., greater travel o'fthe latch lever), the driver engagingshoulders 28" of "the 'clipbeing located on *the'baseportiont20 of the clip where they engage the inner surfaces of the actuator arms l5 and Hi, the Clip being 'installe'dinverted on the-cylinder "extension with respect to 'its position in. the other embodiments.

It will be seenythat assembly of the lost.mo-- tion connection of this invention is extremely simple. i-The'lock cylinder is'die cast with the cylindrical"extension'9'"at. its ,rear fslots l8 and I9 being formed therein either by side cores in the die casting mold or by broachingithe finished casting. The cylinderywith its tumblerme'chanism installed therein, 'iSJinserted at the front of thecaseywhich"isprovided with a counterbore (not shownllarge enough to receive it, the driver*proiecting through a hole at the rearoi the case. The driver12 is slipped"over.the'ex tension, andthe clip H is slid into place. in the slots f8 and |9yin the extension toc'omplete the assembly and provide the lost motion driving connection between the rotatableactuator or cylinder and the'driver 2. .It will be seen that the clip precludes rearward displacement .of the driver off of the actuator, confining it against therear end of the lock case, and at the same time precludesf'iorward displacement of the .cylinder' or. actuator.

Since' the arms..|i5'and j|6 ,Of thedriver are not many wise directly connected to thelat'ch lever H, the lock'assemblymay be vmourttedat anyof. a wide range of angles with respect to the lever. If the latch mechanism is mounted a substantial distance below the lock, the actuator maybe provided with. anarm lyingsubstantially in the plane .of its central portion. |3 and extending to one side of one of the arms: |5 or l6; and an elongated vconnecting link may be securedtothis arm, asmore fully shown in. my copending application, Serial No. 39,765,

filed July 20; 1948, for'Drive Link for Door Locks.

now Patent No. 2,477,063. In such..a ,construc-' tion all ofv the. lost motion will occurbetween theclip and the arms J5 and 16. of .theactuator.

"When theime'chanism .Q'f thisinventionjs .in-

tai a tne lppkj cylinder .9;is. normally in, its .key.

receiving position illustrated by Figure 4, with the side bar 30 engaged in the slot 3| to preclude unauthorized rotation of the cylinder. Insertion of the proper key retracts the side bar and permits rotation of the cylinder through 90 in either direction, at which point a lug 32 on the cylinder engages a shoulder 33 on the inner surface of the case to prevent further rotation of the cylinder. Withdrawal of the key can be eifected only by rotating the cylinder back to its key receiving position.

In the unlocked-position of the lock, shown in Figure 5, the free end of the tine 23 of the clip is in contacting engagement, as at 28, with the arm l6 of the driver, and the arm l6 engages the adjacent side of the lever ll. Rotation of the lock cylinder 90 in a clockwise direction will therefore swing the driver 90 clockwise, moving the arm is away from the lever II and bringing the arm I 5 into engagement with it to move it through the required angle to disable the latch mechanism. It will be noted that in this step the lost motion occurs between the driver and the lever.

Upon return of the lock cylinder back to the key withdrawing position, the opposite tine 2| of the clip is brought up to and into engagement with the other arm l5 of the driver, lost motion in this step occurring between the clip and the driver so that the driver is not moved but is in position to have 90 of counterclockwise rotation imparted thereto by the clip whenever the door is unlocked.

-In unlocking the latch by rotating the lock cylinder or actuator 90 counterclockwise from its Figure 7 position, the lost motion will again occur exclusively between the driver and the lever, and occurs between the clip and the driver during return of the cylinder to the key withdrawing position, as may be readily understood by comparing Figures 5 and '7.

Aside from the manner of effecting engagement between the clip and the driver, the other embodiments of this invention function in the same manner, as may be seen from Figures 8 to 10 and 11 to 13, in whichthe sequence of operations is the same as that in Figures 5 to 7. It will be seen, however, that in the embodiment of Figures 5 to 7, engagement of the free ends of the outer legs 2| and 23 of the clip with the inner surfaces of the arms and N5 of the driver forces the hook-like portions 25 on the legs into more secure engagement with the surface of the driver, thereby guaranteeing against displacement of the clip oif of the actuator, while in the embodiment of Figures 11 to 13 it will be apparent that driving engagement of the clip with the arms of the driver tends to cam the clip more firmly into place on the actuator.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention provides a simple and inexpensive lost motion connection between a lock cylinder and its associated door latch disabling mechanism, and that the connecting means of this invention is capable of withstanding relatively great torsional stresses without failure.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Means for transmitting back and forth movement to a member to be actuated, comprising: a rotatable actuator; a driver having a central hub portion rotatably mounted on the actuator adjacent to one end thereof; a pair of arms on said hub portion embracing the actuator but spaced a distance fromopposlte sides thereof and extending longitudinally of the axis of the actuator beyond said end thereof for the reception therebetween of the member to be actuated; a substantially flat spring clip fixed on the actuator to rotate therewith, said spring clip having a base portion spaced a distance from one side of the actuator, and tines projectingfrom said base portion and sprung around the exterior of the actuator with their extremities projecting a distance from the opposite side of the actuator, said tines having inner edge portions engaged in slots in the exterior of the actuator to constrain the clip to rotate with the actuator and hold the clip against axial motion relative to the actuator, and having outer edge portions lying between said hub portion on the driver and the adjacent end of the actuator to preclude axial displacement of the driver from said end of the actuator; and circumferentially spaced shoulders on portions of the spring clip remote from the exterior of the actuator engageable with the arms on the driver to impart rotation thereto in consequence to rotation of the actuator.

2. Means for transmitting back and forth movement to a member to beactuated. comprising: a rotatable actuator; a driver having a central hub portion rotatably mounted on the actuator adjacent to the rear end thereof; a pair of rearwardly extending arms on said hub portion embracingthe actuator but spaced a distance from opposite sides thereof and projecting a substantial distance beyond the rear end of the actuator for the reception therebetween of the memberto be actuated; a substantially flat spring clip fixed on the actuator rearvvardly of the hub portion of the driver, said spring clip having a base portion spaced a distance from one side of the actuator, and three spaced apart substantially parallel tines extending from said base portion, the outer tines being sprung around the exterior of the actuator and partially engaged in slots therein so as to preclude displacement of the driver off of said rear end of the actuator, and the center time being engaged in across hole in the actuator and cooperatingwith' the outer tines to constrain the clip to rotate with the actuator; and shoulders on portions of the spring clip remote from the exterior of the actuator cooperable with the arms on the driver to impart rotation thereto in consequence to rotation of the actuator.

3. Means for transmitting back and forth movement to a member to be actuated, comprising: a rotatable actuator; a driver having a substantially fiat central hub portion rotatably mounted on the actuatoradjacent to the rear end thereof crosswise of the axis of the actuator; a pair of arms joined to opposite sides of said hub portion and extending rearwardly at right angles therefrom in spaced relationship to opposite sides of the actuator and projecting a substantial distance beyond the rear end thereof; a substantially flat spring clip fixed on the actuator rearwarclly of the hub portion of the driver, said spring clip having a base portion spaced a dis tance from one side of the actuator, and opposite tines projecting from said base portion and sprung around the exterior of the actuator with their extremities projecting a distance from the opposite side of the actuator, said tines having inner edge portions engaged in slots in the exterior of the actuator to constrain the clip to rotate with the actuator and hold the clip against axial motion relative to the actuator, and having outer :,;portions lying-between sai-d hub portion on-"the driver and the rearend of the ac tuator topreclude axial displacement of the driver from the rearend of the actuator; and circumferentially spacedshoulderson portions of the spring clip remote from the exterior of the actuator engageable-with the arms on the driver to impart rotation thereto in consequence to rotation of the actuator.

4. Means for transmitting back and forth movement to a member to be actuated, comprising: an-elongated .substantially cylindrical rotatable -actuator;-.a driver rotatably mounted on the rear end .portion of the actuator and including a flatcentral-hub portion apertured to receive the actuatonand parallel arms bent from. oppositeside edges of the hub portion and extending rearwardiy substantiallyat right angles theretofin spaced relationship .to opposite sides of theactuator, said arms, projecting a substantial distance beyond the rear end of the actuator and being adapted to receive the member to be actuated therebetween; a substantially fiat spring clip fixed on the actuator rearwardly of. the hub portion of the driver to preclude axial displacement .of the driver from the rear end of the actuator, said spring clip having .a base portion spaced a distance from one side of the actuator-and three spaced apart sub stantially parallel tines extending therefrom, the outer tines being sprung around the exterior of the actuator and having their inner edge portions engaged in diametrically opposite slots in the exterior of the actuator .to preclude axial motion of the clip relative tothe actuator, and the outer ends of said tines projecting a distance beyond the exterior of the actuator between said arms on the driver, the center tine having side edges which converge slightly to ward its outer extremity and beingwedged in a cross hole in the actuator to cooperate with the outer tines in constraining the clip to rotate with the actuator, the extremities of the outer tines being spaced apart less than the spacing between the arms on the driver and constituting abutments transiently engageable with said arms upon back. and forth rotation of the actuator to transmita portion of actuator rotation to the driver.

5. 'As an article of manufacture: a substantially flat fork-like spring clip having a base and three spaced apart substantially parallel tines extending from one edge of the base substantially in the plane thereof, the outer tines having relatively shallow fiat bottomed .notches in their inner edges inwardly .of the free ends thereof to provide shoulders thereon facing the base of the clip, and opposed hooks. on their outer extremities outward of said shoulders, and the central tine having side edges converging slightly toward the free end thereof and being offset fiatwise .toone side of theplane of the outer tines with'its free end portion bent flatwisetoward the other side of said, plane.

6. Means for transmitting back. and forth motion to av member to be actuated, comprising: a rotatable actuator; a driver havinga central hub portion rotatably mounted onthe actuator a distance inwardly of one extremity thereof; apair. of opposed arms on the driver projecting from opposite marginal portions of said hub and lying entirely at opposite sides of and spaced from a plane containing the axis of rotation of the actuator, said arms extending lengthwise of said-axis and a distance beyond one side thereof in the direction of said plane for the reception between said arms of the member to be actuated; a retainer on the actuator between the hub portion of the driver and said extremity of the actuator; cooperating means on the retainer and the actuator to hold the retainer against movement toward said extremity of the actuator so as to thereby block detaching motion of the driver toward said extremity of the actuator; a rotation transmitting connection between the retainer and the actuator; and cooperating abutments on the retainer and the driver for transmitting rotation of the actuator to the driver through the retainer.

= 7. Means for transmitting back and forth motion .to a member to be actuated, comprising: a rotatable actuator havingv ashoulder thereon disposed inwardly of and facing one extremity of the actuator; a driver having a substantially flat central hub portion rotatably mounted on the actuator between said extremity thereof and the shoulder thereon, and fiatwise engageable with said shoulder; a pair of arms on the central hub portion spaced from and lying at opposite sides of a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the actuator, said arms extending longitudinally of the axis of the actuator for the reception therebetween of the member to be actuated; a retainer on-the actuator positioned between said extremity thereof and the hub portion of the driver; cooperating means on the retainer and the actuator to hold the retainer against movement relative tothe actuator toward the extremity thereof ;so that the retainer cooperates with the shoulder on the actuator to hold the driver against movement axially relative to the actuator; a rotation transmitting connection between the retainer and the actuator; and cooperating abutments on the retainer and-the driver engageable with one another for transmitting rotation of the actuator to the driver, saidabutments being positioned toprovide a lost motion driving connection between the retainer and the driver by which part of the rotation of the actuator is transmitted to the member to be actuated through the driver.

EDWARD N. JACOBI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 639,337 Anthony Dec. 19, 1899 1,517,976 Freysinger Dec. 2, 1924-. 1,573,960 Winning Feb. 23, 1926 2,098,185 I-Iannaford Nov.'2, 1937 2,129,967 Rubner Sept. 13,1939 2,411,761 Stolberg Nov. 26, 1946 2,462,827 Feldmarm Feb. 22, 1949 

